docs: add FEAT-04 4G LTE modem (Huawei E3372h-153) to replace SIM868 2G hat

This commit is contained in:
Mathieu Moran
2026-08-11 00:03:15 -04:00
parent bd43003a7e
commit cd0583ac84
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@@ -60,6 +60,34 @@ dedicated PLAN.md phase (or fold it into the relevant existing work) and mark it
for a live OBD reading; decide whether it should also sync to the remote device config
(Phase 25.5) or stay local.
### FEAT-04 — Replace SIM868 2G GSM hat with 4G LTE modem (Huawei E3372h-153)
- **Status**: `IDEA`
- **Area**: modems / uplink (Pi `modules/app_cellular.py`, `modules/app_gps.py`, uplink
switching) — replaces the current SIM868 GSM/GNSS HAT + cellular fallback path
- **Phase**: n/a
- **Requested**: owner — just purchased a Huawei **E3372h-153 4G LTE Modem**. The 2G/3G-only
SIM868 hat will not work in Canada (2G networks are decommissioned), so the plan is to make the
4G modem the working cellular uplink instead.
- **Idea**: integrate the Huawei E3372h-153 as the primary cellular data uplink, replacing reliance
on the SIM868's GSM (AT+HTTP) path. The E3372h-153 is a USB "stick" modem — likely supported via
Realtek / cdc_ether / usb-storage based drivers and exposes a dial-up or LTE dongle interface the
Pi can use for connectivity (e.g. via NetworkManager / ModemManager, or a static APN config).
- **Outstanding considerations**:
- Determine the E3372h-153's local mode vs stick/dial mode and the correct Linux driver/interface
(hierarchical USB mode switching may be needed; it's the "153" variant which may use the RNDIS /
ECM / CDC-NCM profile).
- Whether to run it as the *primary* uplink or just another option in the existing phone-hotspot /
home-wifi / local-AP priority chain.
- What happens to the SIM868 — keep it purely for its **GPS/GNSS** role (it's the PWRKEY-toggled
GNSS receiver on `/dev/serial0`) while dropping its **2G GSM** cellular path, vs removing it
entirely.
- The SIM868's `app_gps.py` GNSS positioning must keep working (it's the car's GPS source) even if
the 2G-modem half is retired — separate the two concerns.
- **Keep this feature as-is (2G/GSM fallback) for countries where 2G/3G still works** — don't
remove the existing cellular fallback code; gate it so the 2G path remains available there.
- LTE SIM plan/APN specifics for Canadian carriers (Rogers/Bell/Telus) and whether the modem can
run the Pi's hotspot/SSID the same way `app_network.py` currently does.
---
## Ideas that landed